Born Michael Konstantinides, little is known of his early life. Michael was ordained to the priesthood in 1919 and was elected Metropolitan of Corinth in 1939. Metr. Michael was appointed in late 1949 to head the American Archdiocese to succeed Abp. Athenagoras after the first choice, Abp. Timotheos (Evangelinidis), the Metropolitan of Australia and New Zealand, refused the appointment due to poor health. He died later in 1949.

Abp. Michael was particularly active in expansion of the educational activities of St Basil Academy in Garrison, New York.

Abp. Michael served as the ruling archbishop of the Archdiocese of America until his repose on July 13, 1958. He was buried on the grounds of St Basil Academy, the academy that he loved.